422 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



fBEG. 28 1883. 



swarm with their lurva. This insures life to the young flab 

 during the first three months of its life, the most delicate 

 portion of its existence, when they die by thousands upon 

 the least provocation. 



Large insects, with tbeir correspondingly large larva, are 

 well enough for adult trout, but are of little use to a fish 

 that is smaller than they, and a troutling of an inch long 

 has no use for the grown larvii . ol' the May-fly. There are 

 other small flies whose lives are partly passed in the water 

 in the form of worms, such as the gnats, midges, etc., and, 

 of course, these furnish more or less food for baby trout as 

 well as the black fly does, but when we add the millions of 

 black fly lurva to these, then the waters are rich in food. 

 With the clearing of the original forest the black fly leaves 

 and does not seem to return with its second growth, as we 

 do not find it under such conditions except where this sec- 

 ond growth is surrounded by primeval forest. The fly 

 flourishes where lakes have been raised above their original 

 level and a tract of marsh or woodland has been submerged, 

 giving much forage of decaying vegetation as food for the 

 fly larvae. 



W bile engaged in trout breeding, some years ago, in West- 

 ern New York, I tried the experiment of feeding mosquito 

 larva as a food for baby trout, and found it the best of all 

 food, not the least of its recommendations being that il 

 swam about until devoured and did not foul the trough. 

 The only trouble was to breed them in sufficient quantity. 

 Take a handful of black mud from the bottom of a good 

 trout stream and carefully look if over, and see how many 

 Bniall worms it coutaius, some fine, transparent, and thread- 

 like and others stout and red or black. Tliis, in my opinion, 

 is the primary rule that .settles the question of how many 

 trout the stream can produce. Therefore, if all these things 

 be admitted, the little pest which comes at you in such 

 clouds and causes the blood to trickle down your cheeks 

 untjl your face JS stiff with it, and which creates such an 

 intolerable itching next day, is not wholly an evil. 



There is one thing, however, which no one has attempted 

 to explain. This is why the black fly appears in the spring 

 and is usually gone by the first half of July in the Adiron- 

 daeks, while in.Maine it stays all summer. Who knows? 



F.M. 



IBB OBASB IN HOMES I C TIMES. 

 VlTTTfl the early Greeks the pursuit of the chase was a 

 ' ' duty as imperative as was the tillage of the fields. 

 Such animals as endangered the lives of men were to be ex- 

 terminated as soon as possible. The care of their flocks 

 and herds called first of all and constantly for protection 

 against the attacks of wild beasts; while the crops upon 

 their sown fields would at different stages of their growth 

 offer temptiug food to others. The flesh of some animals 

 was desirable for food; the skins of others furnished cover- 

 ings for beds and for benches — so that the chase was fol- 

 lowed at times for profit as well as for sport. Moreover, a 

 people fond of war and eager to display their bravery and 

 skill could scarcely fail to become enamored of the exciting 

 pleasures of the hunt.; 



Homer draws some of his most striking similes from the 

 Sports of the field. The poet presents a well-drawn sketch 

 of a hunting scene in his description of the fight which took 

 place in front of the Greek ships after Achilles had rejected 

 all offers of reconciliation from Agamemnon. First, he 

 compares the onset of Ajax on that day to the impetuous 

 course of a mountain stream swollen by melting snow and 

 falling rain to a flood of furious waters. The rage of battle 

 carried the hero beyond the Grecian lines until he saw Hek- 

 tor on the field, and then — 



Zeus, the father high-throned, inspired terror in Ajax. 

 Btoocl the man dazed, and he flung on his hack his shield of seven 



ox-hides. 

 Frightened and startled, he shrunk hack, eyeing the crowd like a 



wild beast. 

 Slowly he yielded his ground, as step after step he retreated, 

 Just as a bright red lion is kept from the yards of the cattle, 

 Driven away by the dogs and by men who live on the farmstead, 

 Who will not suffer the beast to snatch from the cattle the fatting, 

 Watching the whole night through, while, longing for flesh, does the 



lion 

 Make his assaults) but in vain, for showers of thick-falling javTins 

 Right in his face are winged from the Hands of men now emboldened. 

 Lighted torches as well; he dreads these although he is famished. 

 At the appearance of dawn he slinks oft in deep disappointment. 

 Ajax, grieved in his heart, thus went from the Trojans unwilling. 



(P.XL, 814-656.) 



The chase was followed for peltry. When Aphrodite came 

 to the shepherd hut of Anchises. on Mount Ida. the hero's 

 bed was spread with skins of bears and deep- voiced lions. 

 (Hymn in Vcn. 160). Agammenon preparing to go to his 

 brother's tent : 



Risen trom slumber he donned a tunic that covered his bosom, 

 Under his shining feet he bound his beautiful sandals. 

 Next be threw over himself the dark red skin of a lion, 



1 | nl huge, to his feet came the pelt, then grasped tie his 



javelin. (II. X. 21-24). 



At tli at same time Menelaos was dressing to go and call 

 on his brother : 



First with a leopards skin his brawny shoulders he covered. 

 Dappled the mantle it made, then his brazen helmet he lifted, 

 Put the helm on his head, and took his spear in his strong hand. 



(II. X, 29-31). 



And on the part of the Trojans, Bolon prepared that 

 night to go as a spy to the camp of the Greeks ; 

 Quick on his shoulders he slung his well-curved bowand his arrows, 



Over all these for a wrap he flung the skin of a gray wolf. 

 Put on his head a cap nf weasel skin, then his shai p spear 

 Took lie, and started to go to the ships from the camp of the Trojans. 



i. II. X., 333-330). 



The ancients valued highly the assistance of their dogs in 

 the chase. When the huuling party went from the house of 

 Autolykos to devote the day to sport upon the sides of 

 Parnassos, the dogs went on ahead scenting the trucks of 

 game: 



When now child of the dawn came Eos of rosy-tipped fingers, 

 Off went the dogs to the chase and with them followed their 



masters, 

 Sons of Autolykos; their comrade went splendid Odysseus. 

 Lofty the mountain they climbed, its slopes covered over with ion-sis. 

 That of Parnassos; but soon they reached peaks swept by the 



tempests. 

 Then aires! did the sun send down his rays on the ploughed land. 

 Coming up from the idly-lapping and deep-flowing ocean. 

 Now to a gorge did they come, these huntsmen, in front of them run- 

 ning 

 Went the dogs scenting the trucks; close after these coursers there 



followed 

 Sons of Autolykos. their, comrade went splendid Odysseus 

 Close by the dogs, and he poised his spear which east a long shadow. 



Ehroufrh this thicket ne'er blew the might of the blast with the rain- 

 storm, 

 Nor did the shining sun with his fierce raj's ever pierce through it— 

 Never a driving storm bleat through, so dense was the thicket; 

 Then- was moreover within a thick bed of leaves that had fallen. 

 Trampling of men and of dogs reached now the ears of the monster 

 As the huntsmen came on ; the boar at the edge of the thicket. 

 Bristled the ridge of his back, the glance of his eye sees like fire; 

 Stood his ground when they came near, then foremost of all did 



Odysseus 

 Rush to attack, and he raised with his powerful hand hts long jav'lin, 

 Eager to wound; but the boar having gotten the better now gashed 



him 

 Over the knee, and much was the flesh he tore with his white tusk, 

 Striking obliaue from one side, but he reached not the bone of the 



hero. 

 Wounded Odysseus the boar by striking him on the right shoulder. 

 Straight through the shoulder pierced the point of the glittering 



jav'lin. 

 Fell in the dust at full length the boar, and his life quickly left him. 

 Then did the children beloved of Autolykos close in about him. 

 As for the wound received by Odysseus blameless and godlike, 

 This did they bandage with skill, with incantations the dark blood 

 Staunched; and they quickly returned to the house of their own 

 dear father. (Od. XIX., 128- 158 ;. 



The chase was presided over by divinities, notably by 

 Artemis. It was this goddess who sent the wild boar of Caly- 

 don to ravage the fields of Oineus, because in making his offer- 

 ings to the gods he had neglected her altars. This animal 

 gave occasion for that famous hunt which was led by 

 Meleagros, the son of Oineus, and who had in this the Help 

 of many huntsmen and their dogs. 

 Angry the maiden divine of birth and delighting in arrows, 

 Roused up a lurking wild boar that had teeth of ivory whiteness. 

 Great was the mischief he wrought as he haunted the cornfields of 



Oineus. 

 Many a towering tree did he throw on the ground in confusion. 

 Utterly these were destroyed from the roots to the blossoms of ap- 

 ples. 

 Later this monster was slain by Oineus' son Meleagros, 

 Calling to come to his aid the huntsmen of many a city, 

 Having them bring their dogs ; few men eoidd not vanquish the wild 



boar. 

 Huge was the beast, and the chase sent scores to the funeral pyre. 



(11. JX, MS-MO,) 

 But the goddess was not always so unpropiticus. To men 

 reduced to straits for food she gave success in the chase, 

 and if they had not dogs to scent the game, nymphs coursed 

 for them the fields and woods to start the wild beasts from 

 their cover, Odysseus tells how he and his companions 

 spent the night thus in want on the island lying off the land 

 of the Cyclops, and in the morning, 

 When now, child of the dawn, came Eos of rosy-tipped flngei-s. 

 Lost in amazement we gazed at the island, strolling about it. 

 Nymps, the daughters of Zeus, who carries the segis, then started 

 Goats of a mountain breed, that my crew might prepare them a 



breakfast. 

 Forthwith our bended bows, our arrows, and long-pointed javTius 

 Took we out of our boats; then, dividing ourselves in three parties. 

 Chase did we give; some god gave sportsuch us heart could desire. 

 (Od. DC., 182-138.) 

 Homer wus familiar with the chase, Scattered through 

 the Iliad and the Odyssey the reader comes across frequent 

 allusions to it as a manly diversion. The passages selected 

 will serve as specimens. They do not, by any means, rep- 

 resent an exhaustive study. As these poems are. the earliest 

 record we can go to in the study of that old world life, ihcy 

 also present the most fruitful field of research. To all of UU 

 who enjoy tracking the life of the present back to the cover 

 of a dusky past, Homer is the god who has given ' 'sport such 

 as heart could desire." IK, C'iioatk. 



TnE Anncai, Meeting N. E. A. — On the evening of 

 Tuesday, January 9, the life members of the National Rifle 

 Association will hold an annual meeting al the Seventh 

 Regiment Armory. It will be an important session, and 

 the mosl important task is that of selecting seven directors 

 to till the place of those going out of office. There is ample 

 room for a change for the better in the make up of the 

 board. There is a demand for more active men, those who 

 have the time and the inclination to do the amount of posi- 

 tive hard work required if the efforts of the association are 

 to meet with success. There has been too much of the 

 figure-head system in the past, now is a good time for a 

 change, and with the work of the coming year before them, 

 the life members can not be too particular in their choice 

 of representatives on the board. 



JP<? $$ortsit\mt j^ourip. 



TRAMPS ABOUT THE SOUTH FORK, 



IN the summer of 1875, my brother Richard and I 

 made an expedition to the South Pork, accompanied by 

 my mountaineer ft iend Francis M'Coy. who has been with 

 me on many a hunting and fishing trip, and another man 

 who went along to help cany provisions, make camp, etc. 

 No other city people, to my knowledge, have ever visited it 

 before or since. 



I published a description of this trip in the Germantown 

 Tdii/rijji/i cf Philadelphia, and gave an account of our 

 meeting the "Hummondses,*' as the natives call them, a set 

 of bear hunters who ' -infest" that region and use it as a sort 

 of family hunting ground, killing deer and bear when" they 

 want them. They live at the mouth of the South Fork, 

 where they have a clearing, and farm a little in a desultory 

 sort of way. but their fame rests upon their deeds as hunters, 

 and they spend most of their time in the woods. 



In the autumn of 1880 1 had a few weeks at my disposal, 

 and resolved to spend part of that time in the neighborhood 

 of the South Pork, making my headquarters, as usual, at 

 M'Coy's. I reached Francis's house about the Ihird week 

 in October, and at once began looking after wdiat I had 

 gone there for, fresh air and exercise. The former of these 

 comes unbidden, and one good whiff of it laden with the 

 indescribable odor of the forest does more good than a 

 month's course of tonics in the confined air of the city. The 

 latter can be had merely for the trouble of setting about it. 



M'Coy's house is three thousand feet above tide, so to go 

 anywhere one has a mountain to descend, and of course one 

 to climb up to get back again, giving ample room for the 

 pursuit of exercise. 



Francis told me just after I reached his house that ho 

 should have to leave home in it short, time to take a trip to 

 a distant county on business which could not be postponed, 

 and I. had been casting about in my mind as to howl would 

 dispose of the week or ten days I should still have left after 

 he went away. We came home one day after a hard tramp 

 in the woods, and having eaten a hearty supper of venison 

 of our own killing- — ('or we had slain a mighty buck — were 

 sitting by the fire, I smoking a quiet- pipe, Francis scraping 

 a turnip, when thus I began : "Francis, I've been thinking 

 about what I am to do when you go away, and I rather think 

 I will get Harmon to go with me and take to the woods to 

 Stay until nr.y spare time is used up what do you think 

 about it?" 



"Well, I'll tell you, Colonel, of course you can stay right 

 here and make yourself at home as long as you've a mind 

 to, but if you tire alter fresh air and exercise 1 believe your 

 plan 's a good one and I'll tell you what to do. I'm going to 

 leave here Monday, lind M'Collum is going with me. We have 

 to go on horseback of course. Now, you can go down to 

 Harmon's to-morrow and get him to come up here Sunday 

 ready to go with you. Monday morning you can put your 

 packs on our horses and we will carry them over to Boil- 

 man's on I he river below Straight. Creek, that will save 

 your carrying them twenty-four miles. We will stop there 

 all night, and Tuesday you can Strike across the Spruce 

 Mountain back to our river and go to Hammond's at the 

 moulh of the South Fork; from there you can take your 

 own route and go wherever you choose, either up the Fork 

 and back over the Black Mountain, or cross over to Black- 

 berry and take a longer trip round. You'll find all the ex- 

 ercise you want climbing the mountains there and fresh air 

 Is plenty." 



1 liked the trip thus roughly sketched out and accord- 

 ingly went, dow to Harmon's the next day and engaged him 

 to go with me. Sunday evening he appeared at M'Cov's 

 ready for the trip, and we arranged our packs, each taking 

 twenty pounds and I carrying my Winchester, while Har- 

 mon shouldered an old mountain rifle. V, e left. M'Cov's 

 Monday morning at 7 o'clock, Harmon and I being "on 

 foot reached the mouth of Spruce Creek, eight miles, at 9;80, 

 and, after waiting ten minutes for the horsemen to over- 

 lake us, started up the mountain beyond the creek, which 

 we toppet! at 10:35. While at the" moult of the, 'creek I 

 looked at the site of the old camp 1 occupied when there in 

 1878: Usually we used the Rock Camp half a mile below 

 the creek, but the camp at the mouth does well enough for 

 a night, It is a wild place that. 1 remember one summer 

 a party of wandering hunters camped there, and while all 

 were asleep a panther crawled inlo camp. One of the party 

 went out to the settlement a day or two afterward, and 

 M'Coy met him at a house where "both ate dinner. While 

 in the middle of the repast this fellow suddenly addressed 

 M'Coy: "Francis, I seed a painter the other night." 

 "You did," said M'Coy: "how far off was he?" The fellow, 

 who had just crammed a huge spoonful of beans in his mouth, 

 blurted out, " 'Bout eighteen inches." The unexpectedness 

 of Ibis rep'y, witli the rather e> traordinary closeness of the 

 beast, quite upset M'Coy's gravity. One does not often get 

 within a font and a half of a panther. 



I was fishing this creek some four or five years ago, in the 

 latter part of May, accompanied by a friend" from Philadel- 

 phia, and al the hitter's suggestion had left my Winchester 

 in the Rock Camp, thereby for the first time breakirg my 

 rule, which is to always carry my 20-inch Winchester slung 

 on my back when fishing in that wild country, We had 

 reached the stream, and my friend and M'Coy had begun 

 fishing some twenty yards below me, while [ was engaged 

 in looping on my flies. A movement on the other side of 

 the creek catching my eye, I looked up and saw an enormous 

 catamount stepping gingerly along through the wet grass. 

 It was not over fifteen paces from me, and walked along up 

 stream for fifty yards in open sight, but was so intent upon 

 the prospective deer to be found at (he lick above that it did 

 not see me. Of course, because I wanted one, I could not 

 find a stone anywhere in reach, or I wbuld have stirred the 

 fellow up. I killed a large panther once not far from this 

 same place. 



We traveled on top of the Spruce Mountain for an hour, 

 turning the heads Of one or two .streams, w lie ii we stopped 

 for dinner and baited the horses. At. 12:05, after half an 

 hour's halt, we started off, and at 1 :05 turned down the far 

 side of the mountain toward Straight Creek. 



Deer situs had been numerous, and we had crossed ten or 

 a. dozen bear tracks on the mountain. On the creek the 

 deer seemed to have been undisturbed, for the ground was 

 tramped lip everywhere. We traveled fast and reached the 

 mouth of the creek at 2:30, halted twenty minutes, then 

 struck down the river and, passing the upper house at 3:25, 

 reached Hoffman's at -1 o'clock. Here we rested over night 

 and spent the evening silting by the big fireplace, smoking 

 and enjoying the amusing conversation of old Boli'man, who 



